Leading French and German-based riders see no issue in adapting to backhand rule

Cristian Demuro and Adrie de Vries, two of the leading riders in continental Europe, are in agreement that adapting to the requirement to only use the whip in the backhand position when visiting Britain will present few, if any, issues.

Part of the rationale put forward by the Whip Consultation Steering Group in changing some aspects of the current BHA rules governing the use of the whip for encouragement was to try to move Britain closer to neighbouring jurisdictions.

France and Germany have the harshest regimes among the major European racing nations, with both countries' stewards empowered to take action once a jockey goes over five strokes of the whip.